fountain pen : Java Glossary

One of my eccentricities is using a fountain pen for signing letters, cheques, cards and notes. I often use other
types of pens for notes to myself. The Waterman people taught be a trick to keep the ink free
flowing. Run warm (not hot) water through the nib, forcing it in where the ink cartridge fits and out the nib.
Let it flow for a few minutes to remove any ink dried inside. I used a French Waterman expert Dune blue
pen. It never seemed to flow freely and continuously. It uses either an ink cartridge or a refillable
converter with a screw plunger to suck up the ink.

Then I used a yellow plastic Lamy Safari which flows more smoothly.
It too uses an ink cartridge refill converter.
The Al-Star looks the same, but it made of
aluminum. My Safari just disappeared recently.

Why a Fountain Pen?

Your signature is more distinctive and memorable.

Your signature is harder to forge. The forger needs a pen like yours and ink like yours.

Forgeries are more obvious to the untrained eye.

It is the opposite of using a Sharpie, which is so easy to forge, the bank will refuse Sharpie
signatures.

What to Look For?

No rubber parts. These will deteriorate.

Replaceable refillable ink cartridge. This lets you pick any ink you want.

You should be able to step on the pen without the barrel cracking.

Bright colours so you can easily find the pen amid clutter.

The Lamy fits these criteria.

Shopping

$19.76

electronic link to Lamy Safari Fountain Pen, Yellow Fine Nib

recommend electronic⇒Lamy Safari Fountain Pen, Yellow Fine Nib

asin

B000UTO0XO

L18F. Strong. Comes with blue ink cartridges. An inexpensive refillable cartridge is sold separately you can fill with any ink you choose. Fairly good ink flow. This is what I used myself until it mysteriously disappeared. Comes in black, blue, charcoal, dark lilac, pink, red, umber, yellow. There are also medium, fine and extra-fine nibs. The Al-Star model looks identical, but is made of aluminum. Made in Germany. Don’t confuse it with the similar looking rollerball model.

Looks like the Safari model, but made of aluminum. Strong. Comes with blue ink cartridge. An inexpensive refillable cartridge is sold separately that you can fill with any ink you choose. Fairly good ink flow. Comes in black, bluegreen, charged green, copper orange, dark purple, graphite, ocean blue. There are medium, fine and extra-fine nibs. Made in Germany. Don’t confuse it with the similar looking rollerball model.